U Magazine, Winter 1987

So we did a feasibility study on a program in electrical engineering. We extended that to include bioengineering, and found out we could build on some of the science courses already in place. We will begin with electrical engineering, and as the program matures , add bioen– gineering, and eventually, bioengineering instrumenta– tion. The addition of electrical engineering will not only serve a need of the community, it also will increase the academic level of our student body. There wasn 't any interest in just expanding for expansion's sake. In fact our guidelines during the planning process stated there would be no expansion unless any additional programs could demonstratively add to the overall quality of the institu– tion. Q: Enrollment topped 5,400 students this fall, a record level. ls the plan to continue increasing enrollment? A: We aren't interested in growth for growth's sake. Our long range plan states that an enrollment ceiling of 6,000 will be established until the year 1990. At the rate we're growing, it will be several years before we hit that mark. Enrollment is up this year. It's up at the graduate level. It's steady at the undergraduate level. Our only interest in growth at the undergraduate level is growth that will support and strengthen existing prog– rams. We are trying specifically to increase the numbers in some graduate programs. Some ofour graduate programs are underenrolled. Q: Your remarks this fall about the relationship of USD to the Roman Catholic Church were the subject of discussion locally. Can you restate your interpretation of that relationship? A: We enjoy complete autonomy from any kind of interference by any outside group at the University of San Diego. I view that as absolutely essential to maintain academic freedom for the institution. And neither I, nor our Board of Trustees.nor Bishop Maher, who has ably served on our Board, and served with vision, is interested in interfering with that traditional relationship. Another issue is dissent. I'm convinced in my own mind that dissent in the Catholic Church is absolutely critical to its well being. How that dissent occurs is the real key. I firmly believe there needs to be a mechanism estab– lished between the local Church and the University to cope with issues of mutual interest as they occur. We could avoid situations where one side or the other makes a statement and the other feels compelled to respond. Bishop Maher is amenable to the idea. We plan to work out something. Q : Soon the University Center will be dedicated, giving USD a true center of campus life. What does the building mean to the campus? A: The University Center will give us a central location where we can provide the base of operation for students· spiritual, social, cultural, psychological and physical concerns. Our efforts to provide a holistic education truly will be strengthened with the opening of this building. Previously, all of these activities have been almost totally decentralized and spread all over campus. Now we have a place not only where those people who do the programing will be located, but also where the activities can be centered.

"Endowment is critical if we want to accomplish the mission we've established for ourselves ... We will have to have it."

Q: USD is heavily dependent upon tuition income. Endowment, which provides long-term financial se– curity.is minimal. How crucial to USD's long range plan is increasing the endowment? A: Endowment is critical ifwe want to accomplish the mission we 've established for ourselves and to meet the various goals that you and I have talked about. We will have to have it. Some of our goals are unattainable unless we receive endowment to support them. The nature and purpose of endowment is one of the most misunderstood aspects of a university. I think the typical person believes endowment is simply comfort money in the budget. It's not. And that needs to be understood completely. Endowment provides in perpetutity those things which a university holds as being essential. For example, a chair in values at the University of San Diego is an extremely important concept. A chair in values means there is an endowment to support a professor who will teach values because we as a Catholic university regard that discipline as critically important to the nature of the institution. Student endowment works on the same principle. For example, ifwe have a block of endowment dedicated for student scholarships in the minority area, that will assure us there will always be funding to support students who are Hispanic or black or another minority group. We are a very young institution and we have not yet fully committed our considerable energies to address that objective. Now is the time to reach for that goal. •

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